Quick specs Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite
Price: $ 1,690 | € 1.810 | £ 1,405 | CHF 1’560
Size: 41 mm
Reference: C65-41CSC2-S0WB0-RLB
This Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite is the enhanced successor of a watch the British brand launched in 2020. The watch has a so called “super compressor mechanism”, an invention from the 1950s to obtain more waterproofness for diving. In short, it’s a compression spring around the perimeter of the case that uses the pressure under water to press the case back against an O-ring gasket.
It was an invention of the Swiss case manufacturer and former bicycle manufacturer Ervin Piquerez SA (EPSA) which they patented in 1955. Back then this rather clever construction was used by brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre, Hamilton, Bulova, IWC, Blancpain, Bucherer, and Tissot. Others, like Rolex with their Oyster case, had their own solutions. Nowadays there are other technical solutions as well to create serious waterproofness, and the super compressor is still one of them.
Diving helmet logo of EPSA
The compression spring in the Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite is only 300 microns wide and can be seen through the partly transparent case back. As the back is also adorned with a deep-stamped coin-like plate with a classic diving helmet on it, the logo of EPSA. The unidirectional bezel sits in the 41-millimeters case and can be controlled with the crown at 2 o’clock.
The dial, in what we would call a Gulf-ish livery, is executed in sunray blue and has a decompression scale printed in light blue and orange. It is a diagram to help you calculating decompression stops before taking a deep dive – up to 150 meters or about 495 feet. Not very, very deep, although more then sufficient for most amateur divers. Perhaps that’s why the brand calls the watch a dress-diver.
The Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite has a power reserve of 56 hour
This diving watch runs on the automatic Sellita caliber SW300-1. Here it has an anti-shock system, COSC certification and a power reserve of 56 hours. It’s a reliable and precise movement and it keeps the overall price at a friendly level.
The Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite comes on a light blue rubber strap with orange lining and steel buckle. It has quick-release pins for easy changing.
| Technical data Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite |
| Reference: C65-41CSC2-S0WB0-RLB |
| Movement: Sellita caliber SW300-1 b | Automatic | Diameter: 25.6 mm (11½ lignes) | Thickness: 3.6 mm | Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz) | Jewels: 25 | Stop-second device | COSC certified | Hours, minutes, seconds | Power reserve: 56 hours |
| Case and dial: 41 mm | Brushed and polished stainless steel | Thickness: 13.75 mm | Anti-reflective domed sapphire crystal | Unidirectional white internal diving bezel | Sunray gradient blue dial with blue and orange accents and decompression scales | Diamond polished hands and indexes with super-luminova Grade X1 GL C1 | Embossed screw-down crowns (2) | Screw down case back with steel and sapphire | Water resistance: 15 ATM / 15 bar / 150 meters / 495 feet |
| Strap: Aquaflex blue rubber strap with orange lining | Steel buckle |
| Price Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite: $ 1,690 | € 1.810 | £ 1,405 | CHF 1’560 |
| Website: www.christopherward.com |